Sailing: 2006 Laser European Championships |20 July 2006

Julie, who usually competes in the gold fleet alongside the world’s elite Laser sailors, did not make the grade for the higher division in Gdynia and had to compete in the silver fleet.

Julie, apparently not at his best at the moment, registered his best finish in the last race where he came in ninth. His next best performance was a 13th place earned in race 6 while in race 9 he mustered a 19th position.

With just three finishes above the 20th position, Julie accumulated 232 points,

120 more than the total of silver fleet winner Andrew Campbell of the United States of America.

Norway’s Kristian Ruth was second with 135 points, while Dan Ward of Great Britain completed the podium by guaranteeing third position with 156 points.

The gold fleet was conquered by Ward’s colleague Paul Goodison who finished with 40 points. He was followed in second position by Poland’s Maciej Grabowski with 43 points while Gustavo Lima of Portugal garnered 48 points to take third position.

There were 69 participants in the gold fleet, meaning that Julie’s 18th position in the silver fleet placed him 87th overall among the 137 competitors of the 2006 European Laser Championships.

G. J.